With their second wind, Blues envisage landing final blow

Page Tools

Like a hurricane, NSW have barged and twisted their way into the
Pura Cup final against Queensland. They have been powerful,
intimidating, volatile and unpredictable.

In mid-January, they seemed to be bearing down on the SCG for a
home decider after four heavy wins in five matches, but then
drifted off course through a draw against Queensland and a flaying
in Perth.

But now, thanks to some rare Tasmanian generosity in a
rain-marred win in Hobart and yesterday's defeat of Victoria as
Western Australia were suffering a draw in Queensland, the Blues
have earned the final berth they deserve as probably the most
talented side in the competition.

While they have to play away, with Queensland needing only to
draw the five-day match at the Gabba from Friday to win the title,
captain Brad Haddin is confident NSW have the desired amount of
steam to win their second Gabba final in three summers.

Queensland confirmed themselves as hosts by batting away WA's
hopes of making the decider in Brisbane over the past two days, the
Bulls' first-innings points from that draw leaving them on top of
the table with 42 points. The Warriors were left in third on 36,
while NSW's five-wicket defeat of Victoria gave them 40.

While the Blues dominated almost throughout against Victoria,
one change seems likely for Brisbane. Given the need for 20
wickets, NSW will still play five bowlers. But considering the
expected pace-friendly conditions at the Gabba, rookie off-spinner
Jason Krejza could miss the final in his first full season with
medium-fast all-rounder Grant Lambert set to play his first match
of the summer.

NSW, dismissed as a young transition side at the start of the
season, are confident their house is in order, from the form of the
nation's best domestic attack to the scoring of Phil Jaques and
Dominic Thornely and the captaincy, batting and keeping of Haddin
in his first season as stand-in skipper for Simon Katich. "We're
just starting to get back on that roll we had earlier in the
season, and once we get on that roll we're a hard team to beat,"
said Haddin.

His side will draw confidence from a narrow two-wicket loss in
Brisbane at the start of the summer, the knowledge they dominated
and should have beaten the Bulls at Bankstown Oval in January, and
the 246-run thrashing of Queensland in the 2002-03 final in
Brisbane - even if only four veterans of that Steve Waugh-led side
will be present this week.

"We've got a bowling attack that suits conditions in Brisbane,"
said Haddin. "We did come close there at the start of the season,
so it does not hold those demons that it has in the past for us. We
played well in the final there when Stephen had us. It's a
different team now, but we're on that roll again."